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What percentage of adults over age 65 will need between 2 and 5 years of long-term care after age 65? [Answer: 20%]. What percentage of assisted living residents transfer to a skilled nursing facility? [Answer: 58.9%]. What are the two largest causes for women’s home health care claims on LTC insurance policies? [Answer: Arthritis at 18% and Alzheimer's at 17%].
A compilation of hundreds of facts, statistics and data compiled from numerous industry reports has been published in the first Long-Term Care Insurance Almanac And Book of Facts, made available from the American Association for Long-Term Care Insurance http://www.aaltci.org. The resource is intended to help insurance and financial professionals address the increasing number of questions raised by prospective clients and professionals who may refer clientele.
“As awareness grows so does the complexity of questions pertaining to long-term care and LTC insurance,” explains Jesse Slome, executive director of the Association. “We wanted one easy-to-use resource that an agent could leave with an inquiring prospect without having to do hours of research.”
The Long-Term Care Insurance Almanac divides information into six categories: Aging and Need, Home Health Care, Assisted Living, Nursing Home Care, Claims and Federal and State Protections. “Few, if any consumers considering long-term care insurance have heard of the State Guaranty Associations that exist for their protection,” Slome adds.
Much of the data comes from proprietary research conducted annually by the Association. “The rest comes from countless hours of reading detailed government studies and pulling the most relevant data that pertains to this field,” Slome notes. “While many acknowledge that inundating prospects with facts and figures isn’t an effective selling strategy, not being able to address questions with specific factual information will kill any chance of appearing as a knowledgeable expert,” Slome concludes. “The Almanac was created to remove that barrier.”
Monday, June 13, 2011
Monday, June 6, 2011
Pattern Predicts Dementia Onset And Long Term Care Need
According to the Alzheimer’s Association, mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is “a condition in which a person has problems with memory, language, or another mental function severe enough to be noticeable to other people and to show up on tests, but not serious enough to interfere with daily life.” This type of mental state is considered a risk factor for dementia, the longest and most costly of all long-term care needs according to the American Association for Long-Term Care Insurance.
Some scientists studies have found that about 10 percent to 15 percent of those with MCI will progress to dementia each year. The new study which appears in the September issue of the Archives of Neurology, sought to deterine if telltale signs within MCI could determine those individuals who would progress more rapidly to full-blown dementia.
Researchers collected data on people with mild cognitive impairment and evaluated these individuals using brain scans and cognition tests. Over the next two years of follow-up, some 25 percent of the individuals did go on to develop dementia.
The researchers noted that if an older adult is starting to display problems in daily life, such as problems shopping independently, problems managing their own finances, problems performing household chores, and problems maintaining their hobbies, they are more likely to develop a dementia within several years.
Dr. Ronald C. Petersen, director of the Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., agreed that, despite the lack of effective treatments, spotting Alzheimer’s disease early remains important. “If people in the family start to recognize a change in memory/learning patterns, that might be sufficient to identify someone who could develop Alzheimer’s disease,” Peterson said. “Don’t wait until the person is having trouble driving, is having trouble paying their bills or having trouble functioning in the community — that’s dementia,” he said. “This study tells us that we can identify important symptoms earlier and it may be worthwhile doing so.”
Some scientists studies have found that about 10 percent to 15 percent of those with MCI will progress to dementia each year. The new study which appears in the September issue of the Archives of Neurology, sought to deterine if telltale signs within MCI could determine those individuals who would progress more rapidly to full-blown dementia.
Researchers collected data on people with mild cognitive impairment and evaluated these individuals using brain scans and cognition tests. Over the next two years of follow-up, some 25 percent of the individuals did go on to develop dementia.
The researchers noted that if an older adult is starting to display problems in daily life, such as problems shopping independently, problems managing their own finances, problems performing household chores, and problems maintaining their hobbies, they are more likely to develop a dementia within several years.
Dr. Ronald C. Petersen, director of the Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., agreed that, despite the lack of effective treatments, spotting Alzheimer’s disease early remains important. “If people in the family start to recognize a change in memory/learning patterns, that might be sufficient to identify someone who could develop Alzheimer’s disease,” Peterson said. “Don’t wait until the person is having trouble driving, is having trouble paying their bills or having trouble functioning in the community — that’s dementia,” he said. “This study tells us that we can identify important symptoms earlier and it may be worthwhile doing so.”
Monday, May 30, 2011
Technology Aiding Alzheimer’s Patients
Kaiser Health News, in collaboration with The Washington Post, reports on “high-tech but simple devices”
According to a new report by Kaiser Health news, simple devices are giving older people a better chance at independence later in life as pilot projects in homes and retirement communities see if these approaches can lead to improved at-home patient monitoring.
The goal of the efforts experts note is to help control problems before they escalate and cut back on the need for costly long-term care and hospital admissions. Dementia and Alzheimer’s disease is a leading cause of the need for costly long-term care according to the American Association for Long-Term Care Insurance.
An estimated 5.3 million Americans have Alzheimer’s disease including about 200,000 Americans under the age of 65 the organization notes. Alzheimer’s generally creates the most cost of all long-term care insurance claims the Association notes.
A report notes that therapy with MP3 players such as iPods allows stroke victims or patients with Alzheimer’s to better interact with others. Caregivers have observed for decades that Alzheimer’s patients can still remember and sing songs long after they’ve stopped recognizing names and faces.
According to a new report by Kaiser Health news, simple devices are giving older people a better chance at independence later in life as pilot projects in homes and retirement communities see if these approaches can lead to improved at-home patient monitoring.
The goal of the efforts experts note is to help control problems before they escalate and cut back on the need for costly long-term care and hospital admissions. Dementia and Alzheimer’s disease is a leading cause of the need for costly long-term care according to the American Association for Long-Term Care Insurance.
An estimated 5.3 million Americans have Alzheimer’s disease including about 200,000 Americans under the age of 65 the organization notes. Alzheimer’s generally creates the most cost of all long-term care insurance claims the Association notes.
A report notes that therapy with MP3 players such as iPods allows stroke victims or patients with Alzheimer’s to better interact with others. Caregivers have observed for decades that Alzheimer’s patients can still remember and sing songs long after they’ve stopped recognizing names and faces.
Monday, May 16, 2011
Insurance State Guaranty Directory
While most consumers are aware that bank deposits are protected and insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) few understand that similar protections exist for insurance products.
“Each state and the District of Columbia maintains a State Guaranty Association that protects consumers in case an insurance company fails,” explains Jesse Slome, executive director of the American Association for Long-Term Care Insurance “In fact most states have two entities, one that protects life and health insurance products and one for property and casualty lines of business since each is quite different.”
Consumers are protected at levels set by the State with levels generally ranging from $100,000 to as much as $500,000.
The insurance associations operate differently than the FDIC which assesses each bank a regular ongoing fee. “That cost of the FDIC fee is actually borne by bank depositors as a fee they don’t see but definitely pay for,” Slome explains. “The State Guaranty Associations do not collect regular fees but rather only assess a fee when an insurance company fails, which is a fairly rare occurrence.”
In the case of an insurance company failure, all remaining insurance companies that operate in the state are assessed the necessary fee to protect policyholders of the failed company. “They must pay the fee to protect the consumers,” Slome adds.
A new online directory which explains insurance company limits for each of the 51 State Guaranty Associations as well as website and phone contact numbers has been created by the American Association for Long-Term Care Insurance. It can be accessed online at http://www.aaltci.org/guaranty.
“Consumers should be aware that these valuable protections exist,” Slome explains. “It is a question often asked by those looking into long-term care insurance planning.”
“Each state and the District of Columbia maintains a State Guaranty Association that protects consumers in case an insurance company fails,” explains Jesse Slome, executive director of the American Association for Long-Term Care Insurance “In fact most states have two entities, one that protects life and health insurance products and one for property and casualty lines of business since each is quite different.”
Consumers are protected at levels set by the State with levels generally ranging from $100,000 to as much as $500,000.
The insurance associations operate differently than the FDIC which assesses each bank a regular ongoing fee. “That cost of the FDIC fee is actually borne by bank depositors as a fee they don’t see but definitely pay for,” Slome explains. “The State Guaranty Associations do not collect regular fees but rather only assess a fee when an insurance company fails, which is a fairly rare occurrence.”
In the case of an insurance company failure, all remaining insurance companies that operate in the state are assessed the necessary fee to protect policyholders of the failed company. “They must pay the fee to protect the consumers,” Slome adds.
A new online directory which explains insurance company limits for each of the 51 State Guaranty Associations as well as website and phone contact numbers has been created by the American Association for Long-Term Care Insurance. It can be accessed online at http://www.aaltci.org/guaranty.
“Consumers should be aware that these valuable protections exist,” Slome explains. “It is a question often asked by those looking into long-term care insurance planning.”
Monday, May 9, 2011
Estrogen Use Before 65 Linked To Reduced Alzheimer’s Risk
A study which was part of the Women’s Health Initiative Memory Study found women who used any form of estrogen hormone therapy before the age of 65 were nearly 50 percent less likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease or dementia than women who did not use hormone therapy before age 65.
Medical researchers noted that the study was one of the largest U.S. prevention studies of postmenopausal women. The study looked at prior hormone use in 7,153 healthy women ages 65-79 before they enrolled in the WHI Memory Study.
Researchers followed the women’s cognitive health over an average of five years. In that time, 106 of the women developed Alzheimer’s disease or dementia. Dementia is a general term referring to the progressive decline in a person’s cognitive function. Dementia can affect memory, attention, language and problem solving abilities. According to the American Association for Long-Term Care Insurance, Alzheimer’s is the most common type of dementia impacting older Americans.
Women who began estrogen-only therapy after the age of 65 had roughly a 50-percent increased risk of developing dementia. The risk jumped to nearly double for women using estrogen-plus-progestin hormone therapy.
Medical researchers noted that the study was one of the largest U.S. prevention studies of postmenopausal women. The study looked at prior hormone use in 7,153 healthy women ages 65-79 before they enrolled in the WHI Memory Study.
Researchers followed the women’s cognitive health over an average of five years. In that time, 106 of the women developed Alzheimer’s disease or dementia. Dementia is a general term referring to the progressive decline in a person’s cognitive function. Dementia can affect memory, attention, language and problem solving abilities. According to the American Association for Long-Term Care Insurance, Alzheimer’s is the most common type of dementia impacting older Americans.
Women who began estrogen-only therapy after the age of 65 had roughly a 50-percent increased risk of developing dementia. The risk jumped to nearly double for women using estrogen-plus-progestin hormone therapy.
Monday, May 2, 2011
Life Expectency In U.S. Hits New High
According to federal officials women born in 2007 can expect to live to 80.4 years on average and men to 75.3 years. The report from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention notes that while Americans can expect to live longer than their parents, life expectancy in the United States is still lower than in many other industrialized countries, including Canada and Japan.
Along with increased life expectancy, the report notes the death rate has dropped to an all-time low of 760.3 deaths per 100,000 people, continuing a long-term trend. “It is increasingly likely that Americans will live a long life into their 80s, 90s and even past 100,” explains Jesse Slome, executive director of the American Association for Long-Term Care Insurance. “But few are prepared for the consequences of living that long.”
The death rate has been decreasing in the United States since the 1960s with fewer deaths from heart disease, stroke and cancer are driving the trend, he said. The report is based on data from nearly 90 percent of U.S. death certificates.
According to the report, life expectancy in 2007 increased to 77.9 years (77 years and 11 months) up from 77.7 years in 2006. Since 2000, life expectancy has increased 1.4 years.
The five leading causes of death, accounting for 64 percent of all deaths, are heart disease, cancer, stroke, chronic lower respiratory diseases and accidents.
Death rates in the United States vary by region and state, with the Southeast leading the nation. The researchers report that white women have the longest life expectancy (80.7 years) followed by black women (77 years). At age 65, life expectancy was 18.6 years in 2007, an increase of 6 percent since 2000.
Experts note that living longer will also have unforeseen effects on the country. “People living 20 years or more than their predecessors will have to rethink retirement planning,” Slome said. “The nation will see a significant drain on Social Security and Medicare benefits as these programs were designed to support people for only five to 10 years after retiring.”
Along with increased life expectancy, the report notes the death rate has dropped to an all-time low of 760.3 deaths per 100,000 people, continuing a long-term trend. “It is increasingly likely that Americans will live a long life into their 80s, 90s and even past 100,” explains Jesse Slome, executive director of the American Association for Long-Term Care Insurance. “But few are prepared for the consequences of living that long.”
The death rate has been decreasing in the United States since the 1960s with fewer deaths from heart disease, stroke and cancer are driving the trend, he said. The report is based on data from nearly 90 percent of U.S. death certificates.
According to the report, life expectancy in 2007 increased to 77.9 years (77 years and 11 months) up from 77.7 years in 2006. Since 2000, life expectancy has increased 1.4 years.
The five leading causes of death, accounting for 64 percent of all deaths, are heart disease, cancer, stroke, chronic lower respiratory diseases and accidents.
Death rates in the United States vary by region and state, with the Southeast leading the nation. The researchers report that white women have the longest life expectancy (80.7 years) followed by black women (77 years). At age 65, life expectancy was 18.6 years in 2007, an increase of 6 percent since 2000.
Experts note that living longer will also have unforeseen effects on the country. “People living 20 years or more than their predecessors will have to rethink retirement planning,” Slome said. “The nation will see a significant drain on Social Security and Medicare benefits as these programs were designed to support people for only five to 10 years after retiring.”
Monday, April 25, 2011
Fat Hormone May Protect Against Alzheimer’s
New research from Boston University School of Medicine was conducted because there has been some data relating body weight to the risk of Alzheimer’s disease. Looking at animal studies, scientists found some data to indicate that leptin not only produces a feeling of satiety but also has a beneficial effect on the hippocampus. They noted that it was important to see if that was true in humans.
The hippocampus is a portion of the brain that plays a role in important aspects of memory.
Some human studies have shown that people with Alzheimer’s disease have lower levels of leptin, but those studies didn’t show which came first, the lower leptin levels or the decline in mental function.
Leptin levels had been measured in 785 study participants in the early 1990s. For the new study, 198 of them had MRI scans that measured brain volume an average of 7.7 years after leptin was measured. The study authors also kept track of new Alzheimer’s diagnoses among the study participants.
The researchers found that higher leptin levels were associated with a lower incidence of Alzheimer’s and all other forms of dementia. The 25 percent of participants with the lowest leptin levels had a 25 percent risk of developing Alzheimer’s over a 12-year period; the incidence was only 6 percent for those with the highest leptin levels. And lower leptin levels were associated with a greater decrease in total brain size.
Another report issued today described disappointing results in a trial of a once-promising drug to prevent Alzheimer’s disease. The drug, tarenflurbil, was designed to reduce production of amyloid, a protein that forms plaques in the brains of people with Alzheimer’s disease. The study of 1,684 people who began taking the drug in the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease showed no benefit, the report said.
The hippocampus is a portion of the brain that plays a role in important aspects of memory.
Some human studies have shown that people with Alzheimer’s disease have lower levels of leptin, but those studies didn’t show which came first, the lower leptin levels or the decline in mental function.
Leptin levels had been measured in 785 study participants in the early 1990s. For the new study, 198 of them had MRI scans that measured brain volume an average of 7.7 years after leptin was measured. The study authors also kept track of new Alzheimer’s diagnoses among the study participants.
The researchers found that higher leptin levels were associated with a lower incidence of Alzheimer’s and all other forms of dementia. The 25 percent of participants with the lowest leptin levels had a 25 percent risk of developing Alzheimer’s over a 12-year period; the incidence was only 6 percent for those with the highest leptin levels. And lower leptin levels were associated with a greater decrease in total brain size.
Another report issued today described disappointing results in a trial of a once-promising drug to prevent Alzheimer’s disease. The drug, tarenflurbil, was designed to reduce production of amyloid, a protein that forms plaques in the brains of people with Alzheimer’s disease. The study of 1,684 people who began taking the drug in the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease showed no benefit, the report said.
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